Customized GI Tanto!

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DIYknife

Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
52
I did the same "shorten handle & remove guards" to mine & then cord-wrapped it, makes it much more handy!!
 
Oh, you guys!

I have the GI Tanto from 1 generation ago, the one that came with the crappy nylon sheath and the paracord handle. I had been thinking of modding it out, but this thread just put it on the chopping block.
All I have done thus far is add more cord to make a better grip, which means the sheath won't close.
WP_20141118_003.jpg


So here's my rough starting plan
1. Strip (the knife, not me)
2. Take about 1" off the tip, preserving the geometry of the tanto.
3. Take off the back guard. Probably leaving the front.
4. Consider shaving a little off the grip.

Still have to decide:
Scales or cord? What kind of finish to settle on?

Thanks for the ideas, guys!
 
ColdDeadHand said:
Rough plan so far.

tanto.png
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I appreciate knife mods & modding however I don't get why so many folks are wanting to take a combat oriented knife and turn it into something akin to a bushcrafter.

The GI tanto was LT's attempt at throwing sand in the eye of Mick Strider's overpriced combat tantos/fixed blades... YMMV
 
Czechmate said:
...I don't get why so many folks are wanting to take a combat oriented knife and turn it into something akin to a bushcrafter.

The GI tanto was LT's attempt at throwing sand in the eye of Mick Strider's overpriced combat tantos/fixed blades... YMMV
Click to expand...

I can't speak for anyone else but here's my reason:
I used to be really into Cold Steel, but the more I'm exposed to actual quality craftsmanship, I realize that CS is just a basic, decently-made knife. They're not a finished product. The GI Tanto is a fine example. It's unwieldy. Even if you're built like a Norse god, you still have to admit it has all the balance of a good machete, not a combat knife. It's a chopper, not necessarily balanced for "thrust, block, parry" type stuff.

Their tomahawks are the same thing. They look cool, but they're not done. The heads aren't fit properly to the wooden handles, or the Trench Hawk that I have is way too heavy in the head. I have wooden clubs with better balances than this "tomahawk".

So that's me. You buy a CS and you get what you pay for, and if you consider it "done" then ok, but I just feel like my standards are rising too high for that.. I think the Recon I is the only thing they make I haven't figured out how to improve on by myself, it's just an EDC utilitarian folder and it does the job I bought it for. Yes, I would like it to be made of better steel, but I'm not too good for AUS8 and I know how to strop, so it's all good.
 
ColdDeadHand said:
I can't speak for anyone else but here's my reason:
I used to be really into Cold Steel, but the more I'm exposed to actual quality craftsmanship, I realize that CS is just a basic, decently-made knife. They're not a finished product. The GI Tanto is a fine example. It's unwieldy. Even if you're built like a Norse god, you still have to admit it has all the balance of a good machete, not a combat knife. It's a chopper, not necessarily balanced for "thrust, block, parry" type stuff.

Their tomahawks are the same thing. They look cool, but they're not done. The heads aren't fit properly to the wooden handles, or the Trench Hawk that I have is way too heavy in the head. I have wooden clubs with better balances than this "tomahawk".

So that's me. You buy a CS and you get what you pay for, and if you consider it "done" then ok, but I just feel like my standards are rising too high for that.. I think the Recon I is the only thing they make I haven't figured out how to improve on by myself, it's just an EDC utilitarian folder and it does the job I bought it for. Yes, I would like it to be made of better steel, but I'm not too good for AUS8 and I know how to strop, so it's all good.
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Oh yeah, I agree. I was merely talking about the GI tanto's origin; not how it actually performs or handles.;):D:thumbup: A decent knife for sure out of the box though.

To me, a pry bar type knife is not a combat/fighter regardless of brand but that's a different discussion altogether. :foot::D
 
Czechmate said:
To me, a pry bar type knife is not a combat/fighter
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I think that's why it's a "GI Tanto" and not a "Green Beret Tanto".
I am just guessing here as have no real experience, but I'm guessing that hand to hand combat is probably the least-likely thing a GI would use a knife for. Most of the time it's probably cutting cords and wires or prying doors or I don't know. I just think it's probably more of a utility blade rather than a combat weapon, most of the time.
 
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